Monday, 26 December 2016

Preview of double Coronation Street on Boxing Day

Monday 26th December
PETER PREPARES TO BREAK SOME NEWS Loved up after his night in the hotel, Peter’s aware that today’s the day he must break the news of his relationship to the street. Meanwhile Toyah calls at Nick’s flat but she’s taken aback to find her husband Toby there. Suggesting they need to talk, Leanne makes herself scarce. Toby begs Toyah to give their marriage another chance and try for a baby again, but Toyah’s adamant it’s over between them. With Toby gone Leanne reveals she’s been struck with a terrible headache, Toyah calls the hospital.
BETHANY MOVES OUT OF THE FRYING PAN & INTO THE FIRE Bethany wakes up to find herself in hospital. Sarah explains how she collapsed in the ginnel after swallowing a load of diet pills. Having returned home, Bethany confesses to Sarah how she fell in love with Gary and is totally ashamed. Sarah’s heart breaks for her troubled daughter but how can she help?
MARY GETS AN OFFER Jude shows Mary a photo of himself as a baby and assures her he had a happy childhood. Mary’s deeply moved. Having summoned Norris, Mary plucks up the courage to tell Jude about his father but will she be able to bring herself to reveal the truth? When Jude suggests that she should move to South Africa and live with he and his wife, Mary’s stunned. How will she reply?
ELSEWHERE As Kevin helps Anna, Gary and Faye to move their things into No.13, Eileen approaches and suggests they bury the hatchet. Will they agree?

Monday 26th December
PETER’S SECRET IS OUTED BY A SPY IN THE SKY Back on the street Peter kisses his mystery woman in the ginnel, unaware that Simon’s drone is hovering above and a shocked Simon is watching them on his phone.
SARAH PUTS BETHANY FIRSTPutting her own feelings aside, Sarah tells Gary they are finished as she has to put Bethany first. Will Gary accept this? Meanwhile Bethany discovers a guy called Nathan, who works at a tanning salon nearby, saved her life. Having tracked him down, Bethany thanks Nathan who puts his number into her phone, insisting she can call him any time.
KEVIN GETS AN UNEXPECTED BILL.Kevin’s worried when he hears that Sophie’s had to have her appendix out in Miami and has run up an enormous medical bill.
ELSEWHERE Billy assures Todd that he loves him as much as ever but he also has to follow his heart and return to the church.

Much as I dislike contrived exits, I dislike contrived entrances even more. The whole meeting by chance in Portsmouth and Peter and Toyah falling for each other is just too unlikely. Bethany's entrance was similarly contrived and she still doesn't ring true to me because her storylines haven't been strong enough. Chris and Georgia are great actors and will probably make it work but it's unnecessary cloak and dagger.I don't know why Peter and Toyah couldn't have become an item after arriving separately in Weatherfield. Toyah could still have come to stay with Leanne after her marriage broke up.

Was anybody else disappointed with the Christmas Day episode? Brawling in the street, yet another Platt ( Bethany) heading for disaster,Eva being super chirpy a day after crying buckets over Maria, Billy taking to Shona who is going to bring a whole lot of predictable trouble. I could go on but I won't. Lacking in humour ( the whole Steve, Tim and the telly thing was pathetic) and warmth (apart from Mary, Norris and Jude) it wasn't up to the usual standard.